Crux provided emergency core drilling and instrumentation services to the project. The intent of the drilling program was to locate precisely where the landslide occurred, determine if it was still moving, and establish the general stability of the slope. Seventeen core holes were completed, ranging in depth from 29 to 250 feet for a combined total of 1,793 feet. The damage to the roadway created access challenges, requiring a combination of track mounted drill rigs and helicopter support.

Core recovery was successfully completed through challenging subsurface conditions, including the Chinle formation, which is made up primarily of fluvial mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. Optical/acoustical downhole imaging was provided in three borings, and inclinometers were installed in seven borings. In addition to subsurface conditions and access constraints, a major project challenge was successfully drilling and installing inclinometers in an active landslide.